The Davidson 35 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 30.0′, the Davidson 35 tops out around 7.3 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √30.0′ LWL = 7.3 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
19.6
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
41.4%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
172
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
21.3
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.99
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
21.3
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.99
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Davidson 35 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Kiwi 35
41s/nm
Santana 35
120s/nm
C&C 35
126s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.1 |
4.0 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
7.1 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.1 |
6.6 |
| Run150–180° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.3 kts),
SA/D (19.6), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Davidson 35 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–20 kts
20–30 kts
30+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–30 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
30+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Davidson 35.
|
Davidson 35 |
C&C 35 |
Cooper 353 |
Kiwi 35 |
Ross 35 |
Santana 35 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
35.0 |
— |
35.0 |
35.0 |
35.0 |
35.0 |
| LWL |
30.0 |
— |
28.5 |
29.0 |
30.7 |
26.5 |
| Beam |
10.9 |
— |
12.0 |
14.0 |
11.0 |
11.9 |
| Displacement |
10 |
— |
13 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
| Ballast |
4 |
— |
4 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
581 |
— |
560 |
477 |
— |
550 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
126 |
— |
41 |
— |
120 |
| SA/Disp |
19.6 |
— |
16.3 |
38.1 |
— |
21.2 |
| Bal/Disp |
41.4 |
— |
36.2 |
— |
44.9 |
— |
| Comfort |
21.3 |
— |
24.1 |
4.3 |
— |
16.7 |
| Capsize |
1.99 |
— |
2.05 |
3.95 |
— |
2.34 |
| Hull Speed |
7.3 |
— |
7.2 |
7.2 |
— |
6.9 |